Recommendation of Wa-Jazz: A Masterpiece of Japanese Jazz—One Must-Listen Album

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

If you’re not particularly interested in jazz as a genre, you might just think of it as music from abroad.

In fact, here in Japan, we’ve produced many world-class players, and countless remarkable classic albums have been released.

This time, we’re presenting a selection of essential “Wa-Jazz” masterpieces by Japanese musicians.

While focusing on timeless classics from the ’60s and ’70s, the lineup also turns its attention to works released in the ’90s and 2000s.

Please enjoy jazz music with a distinctly Japanese flavor—something a little different from overseas jazz!

Recommendation of Wa-Jazz: One Essential Japanese Jazz Album (91–100)

Yellow Long Road / Toshiko Akiyoshi Recital

A long yellow roadAkiyoshi Toshiko

A long yellow road

A long yellow roadAkiyoshi Toshiko

Currently residing in New York, Toshiko Akiyoshi was born in 1929 and is celebrated as a jazz pianist Japan can proudly present to the world, as well as a renowned big band leader.

It’s also well known that her daughter is the musician Monday Michiru.

With 14 Grammy nominations, the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1997, and in 1999 becoming the first Japanese inductee into the Jazz Hall of Fame, her achievements are far too numerous to be encapsulated in a short paragraph.

This work, Yellow Is the Color of Longing: Toshiko Akiyoshi Recital, features recordings from February 1961 by Akiyoshi—who had been the first Japanese jazz musician to study abroad—upon her triumphant return to Japan that year, performed in a trio format.

At the time it was released only as an Asahi Sonorama flexi disc, and though it was later issued on vinyl and CD, it remained out of print for years—truly a “phantom recording.” Beginning with the title track Yellow Is the Color of Longing, said to be the piece Akiyoshi herself is most attached to, the selection—original compositions, folk songs, and spirituals—showcases Akiyoshi’s distinctive personality and taste, making this a remarkable gem.

It is also an extremely valuable recording for understanding the history of Japanese jazz.

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JiLL’s blueJiLL-Decoy association

[OFFICIAL] JiLL’s blue / JiLL-Decoy association (Jilldeco)

JiLL's blueJiLL-Decoy association

They’re a jazz unit commonly known as Jil Deco, consisting of vocals, guitar, and drums.

It’s a band that plays a stylish, sophisticated sound.

It seems 2017 marked their 15th anniversary.

They’re actively performing at various live venues across Japan.

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In conclusion

Vintage Japanese jazz enjoys high popularity overseas and is a prized genre among analog collectors as part of the so-called “Wa-mono.” For those who previously associated jazz only with foreign music, this article likely showed just how many high-level jazz albums Japanese artists have released.

Take this opportunity to check out some of the classic masterpieces!